Collin Morikawa anticipates a return to full fitness shortly.
Collin Morikawa, who unexpectedly withdrew from the Players Championship last week, reported that his back is getting better and anticipates returning to full strength soon, which is positive news for the world No. 6 with the Masters approaching in less than a month.
The two-time major champion had to leave the Players after completing just one hole in his first round. He took a full-speed practice swing on the 11th tee, then stepped back and subsequently withdrew, later describing his departure as “just the worst thing in the world.”
As reported by ESPN’s Marty Smith, Morikawa mentioned that his back is improving daily, and the current objective is to prevent any further issues moving forward.
“My team and I are conducting a series of tests to ensure we protect the area and consistently strengthen it to prevent occurrences like this in the future,” Morikawa stated, according to Smith.
Smith relayed Morikawa’s remarks during the TGL semifinals featuring Atlanta and Los Angeles on Tuesday night. Morikawa is a member of the L.A. team but was unable to participate.
Morikawa was viewed as a contender to win the Players due to his strong performance at the beginning of 2026, which included three top-10 finishes and a victory at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
He experienced some ongoing back problems in 2021 during the Tokyo Olympics and in 2023, which led him to withdraw from the Memorial tournament that year.
